If the PC's report is enacted by the Government, drought assistance for farmers would be replaced with a Centrelink payment set at the level of the dole.

Existing drought-assistance measures would go and no new areas would be drought-declared.

The report is one of three commissioned by the Federal Government as part of its process of overhauling drought policy to better address the social, economic and environmental costs associated with drought.

But NFF president David Crombie slammed the PC's report as deconstructionist, while offering little ion the way of solutions for the future.

"What is the new drought model the PC is suggesting? Is it to remove all support and only leave time limited income assistance and other investment such as R&D and training?" Mr Crombie said.

"NFF considers this is in no way sufficient to enable the most competitive (and the second-least subsidised agricultural nation in the OECD) manage and prepare for drought and climate variability."

While the NFF recognises the need for change, it wants the new drought policy to be focussed on assisting farmers to prepare for future droughts.

The PC recommends 18 months transition to new policy framework, with 12 months crossover.

"NFF considers that this is insufficient to develop, implement and communicate a new policy model," Mr Crombie said.

"Given the dire situation many families and communities are in, and the fact that the extent and duration of this current drought is unknown, and the reduced capacity in many farm businesses, families and communities given prolonged drought for many years, identifying a specific transition period is not prudent."

Notably the PC did not recommend support for a HECS-style loan scheme as advocated by the NFF to assist farmers with innovation, diversification and succession.